Life and its struggles often come at us fast, especially for Lavender, a young Black, indigenous girl coming of age in tumultuous surroundings. Lavender’s story and thoughts of her once permeated the mind of first-time author Monica McCollough (pen name) for over fifteen years, but these days the fictional character is no longer a constant,...
Sheila Jones wore many hats in the community of Jasper County, Georgia, before making history as the first African American woman elected to the Jasper County Board of Commissioners in 2021. Jones, whose district is largely made up of the City of Monticello, previously served on the Jasper County School Governance Team in Monticello and...
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Hozell Odom III understands the importance of serving and giving back to his community for the greater good. With his military career now far behind him, Odom is using the leadership skills, training, and education he acquired throughout his career to offer opportunities to the next generation of leaders in...
Daverney Freeman stepped into the most important role of her life when she became a mother at the age of 16. “It’s the biggest challenge I have faced in my personal life,” said Freeman, who grew up in the small South Florida community of Fort Pierce. “There’s no way to fully prepare you for parenthood,...
After experiencing the loss of two siblings at early ages, Birmingham resident Alexander Boone Jr. imagined all the possibilities they could have explored through giving back in the community. Boone’s sister, Ingrid, passed away when she was just a toddler and his brother, Steven, passed when he was a young adult. “Steven spent most of his...
A community organization founded by one of the oldest Black fraternities, Rho Omega and Friends is behind Louisiana’s largest and longest running Juneteenth festival that also serves as a fundraiser to help send local youth to college. Rho Omega and Friends will present the 36th annual Let the Good Times Roll Festival honoring the culture, music, art, fashion and...
When Lowndes County elementary school teacher Shawntay Gray began brainstorming ideas to take her love for teaching outside the traditional classroom, she envisioned ways to inspire children through creativity and new opportunities they may not have access to at home and in their communities. Looking back on her own childhood, Gray said she recalled how...
Reggae and Soca beats, the scent of mouthwatering food and bold, vibrant Caribbean colors of red, green and yellow infuse the air with an intoxicating feast for the senses at the annual Caribbean Food and Music Festival hosted by the Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization (CACAO). It’s a scene that CACAO and festival founder Pauline...
For U.S. Army major and fitness coach Dewayne Webb, fitness encompasses balancing many dimensions of our lives. Webb, founder of the Christian-based nonprofit All About Fitness (AAF), leads free bootcamp-style workouts nine days a week to inspire others to live physically fit lives, but his participants are receiving more than just a workout. Since 2014, Webb has been encouraging...